Overall Goals

The Study Group poses itself three principal objectives:

1. conduct a survey of users who use current digital libraries, in order to learn their effective expectations and perception of services
2. closely examine the themes of organisation and coordination of digital libraries, particularly as concerns the socio-economic aspects tied to the interoperability of digital resources
3. probe into the technological problems, defining the problems of accessibility, different models of service architecture, the results of current studies.

The research questions to which the Study Group attempts to give answers are:

• What infrastructure is needed in Italy for digital library services?
• Who must supply this infrastructure?
• What needs and what user communities must be considered as priority?
• What services and resources are essential, and which must be considered as desirable to satisfy these need?
• How can cultural institutions collaborate amongst themselves and with private organisations in order to realise digital libraries?
• Are the staff of cultural institutions adequately prepared for the innovation of procedures and services?

Three factors are considered as critical for digital library applications:

1. sustainability in time,
2. cooperation (including a clear understanding of the different levels of action and management),
3. concentrating on the users of reference.

The evolution towards digital technology of archives, libraries and museums is analysed and compared with respect to the demands for standardisation and the realisation of the digital library infrastructure and of the system of national government. The national context referred to includes (the) national policy towards digital technology, economic pressure, the legislative picture, cultural customs, organisational culture, and points of view.